defense
Pronunciation
  • (RP) IPA: /dɪˈfɛns/
  • (America) IPA: /dɪˈfɛns/
  • (sports) (America, often) IPA: /ˈdiːˌfɛns/
Noun

defense (American spelling)

  1. The action of defending or protecting from attack, danger, or injury.
  2. Anything employed to oppose attack(s).
    1. (team sports) A strategy and tactics employed to prevent the other team from scoring; contrasted with offense.
    2. (team sports) The portion of a team dedicated to preventing the other team from scoring; contrasted with offense.
  3. An argument in support or justification of something.
    1. (law, by extension) The case presented by the defendant in a legal proceeding.
    2. (law, by extension) The lawyer or team thereof who presents such a case.
  4. (government, military) Government policy or (infra)structure related to the military.
    Department of Defense
  5. (obsolete) A prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance.
    • Severe defenses […] against wearing any linen under a certain breadth.
Synonyms Antonyms Translations Translations Translations


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